What is the Storyline?

I have been working on the Family Tree for my "significant other's" paternal side of the family.

Other than writing; cemeteries and genealogy are another of my passions.....I actually call them addictions. I can wander through an old cemetery regardless if any of my own family is buried there.

Old cemeteries are peaceful. There are often interesting, informative tombstones - and there's certainly no chance of any long-winded conversations, if one is alone!

Through hours of digging, I had learned that many of my friend's father's mother's family were buried in a cemetery not too far from where he now lives. Yesterday, on our way back to his home from a "weekend getaway," I suggested that we go by the old cemetery and try to find some of the tombstones.

(We found the huge cemetery, but need more information to find the stones.)

We ended up stopping at McDonald's for a "healthy" lunch of a chicken sandwich and a chocolate shake. Outside, in the hot sun, sat a woman looking pretty disheveled.

After we got inside and began to eat, she came in and sat across from us. Her face was red from the sun and the heat, and I felt guilty as we ate and she seemed to watch. She had nothing, in her hands, but a small phone - no purse or wallet.

We debated about whether or not to offer her some food and decided to talk to the McDonald's Manager. We were assured that she had bought herself a drink, so we figured she had money had she wanted to eat.

As we got ready to leave, my friend stopped and spoke to her and asked her how she was doing and her reply was, "not too good."

He continued the conversation by asking her what was wrong. She told him she was stranded in this small town and needed to get back to Des Moines - approximately 80 miles away - and had no way to get there.

I walked up, and he looked at me and said, "she needs to get to Des Moines."  My response was, "too bad we just came from there."  His next question was, "should we take her?"

I was surprised by this, because I'm the one who usually does these type of things that one should not do, in this day and age!  And, I get fussed at!

Now, we were going to drive back - the same 80 some odd miles we had just driven - and take this unknown (strange looking) woman to Des Moines.

My response was, "whatever you think."

By now, several other people in the restaurant had begun to look and listen - and after we had her in the car - they came to my friend and asked, "Are you sure this is a smart thing to do?"

He said, "She needs help."

As we made the trip, back toward Des Moines, we learned (quickly) that she was a 'Special Needs person' who had really been "taken in" by someone.

A man had paid a taxi over $100 to bring her to his small town the night before. Apparently, she wasn't what he had hoped for, and he stranded her. She had lost her medications, she had no money and she couldn't get back home.

She didn't ask us for any money - she asked for nothing - and she was very appreciative that we were willing to take her home. The house where she lived, with a caregiver, was well-kept and in a nice area. She thanked us and jumped out of the car and ran toward her house.

Last night, during my "wakeful" periods, she took up space in my mind.
I am a firm believer that "God works in mysterious ways," and this had certainly been one of those days and one of those ways.

We often have no idea what the storyline may be, in the lives of others.

History Lesson While You Read

Travelers in Painted Wagons on Cohay Creek was the brainchild of Mary Cooke....my friend who writes as Mary Lou Cheatham. I think Mary Lou must, like many other successful writers, have dozens of ideas just churning in her head. She has such an imagination!

While I, on the other hand, really have to write non-fiction. It has to be something I've seen or something that has happened to me. Sometimes, it's funny - sometimes it's sad. I have that kind of imagination, but I can't imagine something that hasn't happened! I'm just not a fiction writer. Everybody can't be!

I had written lots of things - articles - for the local newspaper, for my blog and for the Writer's Group to which I belong. But.....I had never written a book. I always WANTED to write a book, and had actually started one, years before - but never got around to finishing it.

Mary Lou had read some of the things I'd written. She seemed to appreciate the way I was able to describe scenes - that would make one tend to feel they were actually there, or seeing what I was describing.

She asked if I would like to coauthor 'Travelers' with her and my writing career was born.

I have since written my second (I'll tell you about it on another day), but Mary Lou and Travelers were my inspiration.

You can download it to your Kindle, order the Paperback if you're one of those that likes to "hold a book in your hands," or you can listen to it. Jamie Hockenberg recorded it, on Audible, for us.

Lots of research went into gypsies and gypsy life - so you'll get a history lesson while you listen or read.

It Wasn't Easy......

"What wasn't easy?" you ask.......

"Writing that first book," I respond.....

I am one of those folks who probably has "Adult onset ADD"........in other words, I just can't seem to remain focused. I begin researching something online, and I will see something interesting that leads me in another direction. Before I know it, the ADD has kicked in and I don't even remember what it was I was supposed to be doing.

However, my first book was the inspiration and suggestion and at the invitation of Mary Cooke, to write with her.  Mary writes as Mary Lou Cheatham and has written 14 books. Many of her books are in the Covington Chronicles series, and she also has a Cookbook in her list of books.

Mary Lou had read some of the articles in my 'From the Front Porch' blog as well as some of my "outbursts" on my personal Facebook page. What Mary Lou didn't know (until I told her) was that her mother, Myrtle, had assisted the doctor as the Midwife, when I was born!

Mary Lou has such a great imagination (one of the facets of which I'm lacking.) She had decided to write a book about Gypsies who moved into the area where I now live. 'Travelers in Painted Wagons on Cohay Creek' was born in Mary Lou's head and it grew between us.

It isn't always easy writing what someone else imagines. My experience with Mary Lou made me realize what a tough job the Ghostwriters who write with and for James Patterson must have. Does he have the idea.....they do the research.....and write the the story, or does he have the idea, they do the research, and he tells them what the story should be?

Often, Mary Lou would suggest what she wanted - I would research - write my thoughts, and she would either rewrite what I had written or incorporate it into what she was writing.

Of course, it also didn't help that my urge to write might not coincide with Mary Lou's. Nor did I realize, until I wrote my own book, all the hard work she had to put into "our" book.

I had no idea how much work she was having to do to get the manuscript formatted correctly. Thankfully, her husband John was the "Master Mind" of the cover and created that, for us. When Mary Lou would tell me how much time she was spending, on the book, making corrections I didn't understand - until I wrote my own. Then I really knew, it wasn't easy!

Mary Lou had asked me to write the book with her but she carried the load. It wasn't easy.  She was my inspiration to get started. She was my Mentor. She took a chance on me ........it wasn't easy.

What this blog is about.......

"Should I have a website/blog that is dedicated solely to me.....as an Author?" I asked?  

I already have a personal Facebook page, and my friend Mary Cooke (who writes as Mary Lou Cheatham) and I have a Facebook page titled 'Okohay Books,' and I have a blog 'From the Front Porch,' and when my honey had Multiple Myeloma, I had a blog for that, and when we went to Europe, I had a blog for that! And I belong to a group, on Facebook, called DAWPA.....it's for Amateur Writers, Photographers and Artists who have a connection to the Mississippi Delta. That seemed like enough to try to manage. If I created a website/blog, just for Sarah Walker Gorrell, Author....how would I ever have time to write - which is what this is all about!

But, they said....."Of course you need a website/blog which is dedicated to you, as an Author." 

And so, I decided (in my head)....."Okay, if I'm going to join these groups and ask for their advice, then I need to follow what they say."

And the fun began.

First, I searched for the perfect "Stock Free" photo. (Means you don't have to pay for it!)

And I found it.....absolutely the photo that I needed.

It just needed "cropping" a little bit......putting the name of my blog on it..and I was in business. 

This blog will, not only, tell you about what I'm doing - in the writing world - it may also offer advice, suggestions, etc. I also love sharing information and good news about others, so don't be surprised if everything you read isn't just about me!

I also love comments....so feel free to leave one!  Share what's going on in your (as we say down south) "Neck of the woods."